Home / Business and Economy / City Eyes Desalination Deal Amid Dire Drought
City Eyes Desalination Deal Amid Dire Drought
26 Mar
Summary
- Corpus Christi council will negotiate to buy water from a private desalination plant.
- Two reservoirs are at 8.4% capacity, threatening a water emergency within months.
- The city previously scrapped its own $1.2 billion desalination project due to costs.
Corpus Christi City Council has voted to explore an agreement with a private entity to secure a water supply from a desalination plant. This decision follows the city's previous abandonment of its own desalination project, which had an estimated cost exceeding $1.2 billion.
The city is currently experiencing a severe drought, with its primary reservoirs at critically low levels of 8.4% capacity. This situation poses a risk of a water emergency declaration within months, indicating only a 180-day water supply remains.
The proposed solution involves purchasing water from Corpus Christi Polymers' desalination plant, which is nearing completion. Aquatech, a desalination company, has an agreement to supply water from this plant, which is designed to filter salt from seawater or groundwater.
Council members expressed caution regarding the new agreement, citing past financial and environmental concerns associated with desalination. However, the urgency of the drought situation has prompted the council to move forward with negotiations for this potential long-term water solution.
